NATURAL HISTORY 19 



Then there are the snow partridges or 

 snow cocks ( Tetraogallus), of which each 

 considerable range of mountains in Asia 

 seems to have a distinct species. The 

 two varieties which Mr. Rothschild deems 

 most suitable for introduction hail from 

 the high tops of the Caucasus and the 

 Himalayas respectively. They are at once 

 the shyest and wildest, and the finest of 

 the partridge race, being as large as a 

 hen capercailzie. Despite their size, they 

 could not be mistaken for anything but 

 a real partridge, and look a true and noble 

 game bird in their beautiful plumage of 

 silvery-grey and white, the naked patch 

 behind the eye making a splash of orange 

 vermilion, which contrasts pleasingly with 

 the more sober and delicate tones of the 

 general colour scheme. 



While we would gladly welcome these 

 fine mountain-dwellers as a splendid addi- 

 tion to our native fauna and it would 

 indeed lend a new interest to the scenery 

 if one might look to flush the mighty 

 snow cock among the barren solitudes of 



